I hold a number of technical certifications, one of my favorite ways of preparing is to go on a three or four day Bahamas cruise prior to sitting for the exam.

Total solitude. It's an awesome way to study for the exam. Multiple meal choices only a few steps away. The ability to lay in the sun and get through hundreds of pages uninterrupted by anyone except maybe the cocktail waitress. Distractions when you need them.

Gaucho wrote:Total solitude? Are you able to tune out the other 4000 cruise guests?

I'm a NY'er now. One thing I've learned to do is find solitude in a crowd.

Seriously though, unless you're on a Disney Ship or a cruise dedicated to a "Party" (Blues Cruise, Jam Cruise, Reggae Cruise, etc...) there really isn't a lot of noise on the deck of a cruise ship. Many even have "Adults only" areas. I tend to try and go in late April early May or September and early October to avoid the family and student crowd.

Also, in a worst case scenario, you always have the cabin to retreat to. (although things have never gotten crazy enough for me to use that option)

I hold a number of technical certifications, one of my favorite ways of preparing is to go on a three or four day Bahamas cruise prior to sitting for the exam.

Total solitude. It's an awesome way to study for the exam. Multiple meal choices only a few steps away. The ability to lay in the sun and get through hundreds of pages uninterrupted by anyone except maybe the cocktail waitress. Distractions when you need them.

I've never failed a single exam when studying this way.

Never been on a cruise and never even thought the idea sounded appealing...... until I read this.

If I'm wrong and there actually is a heaven, this sounds pretty much what I'd want it to be.

I hold a number of technical certifications, one of my favorite ways of preparing is to go on a three or four day Bahamas cruise prior to sitting for the exam.

Total solitude. It's an awesome way to study for the exam. Multiple meal choices only a few steps away. The ability to lay in the sun and get through hundreds of pages uninterrupted by anyone except maybe the cocktail waitress. Distractions when you need them.

I've never failed a single exam when studying this way.

Honestly, that sounds like the worst idea ever. And quite expensive way of studying when the library is distraction free and only a few blocks away.

I hold a number of technical certifications, one of my favorite ways of preparing is to go on a three or four day Bahamas cruise prior to sitting for the exam.

Total solitude. It's an awesome way to study for the exam. Multiple meal choices only a few steps away. The ability to lay in the sun and get through hundreds of pages uninterrupted by anyone except maybe the cocktail waitress. Distractions when you need them.

I've never failed a single exam when studying this way.

Honestly, that sounds like the worst idea ever. And quite expensive way of studying when the library is distraction free and only a few blocks away.

haha. I think it was a way to relax him. I am guessing he wasn't studying 24/7. But I have been told there are plenty of people that are sunning themselves while aboard.

I hold a number of technical certifications, one of my favorite ways of preparing is to go on a three or four day Bahamas cruise prior to sitting for the exam.

Total solitude. It's an awesome way to study for the exam. Multiple meal choices only a few steps away. The ability to lay in the sun and get through hundreds of pages uninterrupted by anyone except maybe the cocktail waitress. Distractions when you need them.

I've never failed a single exam when studying this way.

Honestly, that sounds like the worst idea ever. And quite expensive way of studying when the library is distraction free and only a few blocks away.

I loooove cruises. My family used to go to OBX every summer, did that for like 15 straight years. Two years ago we switched it up to a cruise, and did another cruise this summer. We'll never go back. Basically the food is unbeleivable. They have food available 24/7, with a ton of variety. I spend most of my time drinking, going to the casino, watching shows, sitting in the hot tub, lying on beaches, going to the bars and clubs in resorts and on the boat. It's just the best type of vacation in my opinion.

I hold a number of technical certifications, one of my favorite ways of preparing is to go on a three or four day Bahamas cruise prior to sitting for the exam.

Total solitude. It's an awesome way to study for the exam. Multiple meal choices only a few steps away. The ability to lay in the sun and get through hundreds of pages uninterrupted by anyone except maybe the cocktail waitress. Distractions when you need them.

I've never failed a single exam when studying this way.

Honestly, that sounds like the worst idea ever. And quite expensive way of studying when the library is distraction free and only a few blocks away.

To each his own. So I respect your opinion that for you, it might not be the best choice.

I wasn't worried about $$$$. I'm not a college student. I was making serious money at the time as a consultant. It was the late 90's through about 2007. If you were in IT during the late 90's and had any experience at all, your phone would ring every single day with a better offer.

From 1994 to 2000 my already comfortable salary nearly tripled. But they wanted those certifications.

The other issue is that, as a consultant, your phone is constantly ringing. That doesn't happen on cruise ship. The other thing was that until recently, there was no internet either. (I think there are select cruise ships who offer internet today).

Bottom line, it worked for me. Lay there getting a tan, drinks at the ready. A pool to jump into and cool yourself off, buffets everywhere within walking distance. You get tired of studying? Go play a hand of Blackjack. Want to study some more? Need a change of scenery? Pick a different pool. Or Sundeck.

I had a good time. You can make the trip whatever you want. If you just want to lay by the pool and drink, or even just relax the whole time, you can. If you want to go to the bars and party, you can do that. You can go to the casino, you can go to the shows, you can just sit on the deck.

And at the stops, you can do crazy excursions (sp?), just go to the beach and sit there for a few hours, or go shopping. There are so many options.

My wife and I loved the excursions and did the full island tours for all of our stops. We love to explore and go around vs relax. But each stop had about a 2 hr stint at the beach included.

We'd leave the ship at 8 in the morning, and not get back until around 5 or so. We'd get showered up, go to dinner at 6, see the show at 7:30, and then just hang out until like 9 or 10 and then go to bed.

The two nights at sea, when there were no stops, we'd just hang out on the deck by the pool the entire time and just chilled. Those nights, they had the big parties on the deck we went to.